Washing machine for window blinds



NOV. '12, 1946. o FRENCH 2,410,934

. WASHING MACHINE FOR WINDOW BLINDS Filed June 21, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Fig. 2

luvs/won 041:2 F. FRzKcH Nov.'12,194s. o FRENCH 2,410,934".

WASHING MACHINE FOR-WINDOW BLINDS Filed June 21, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

' NOV. 12,1946. Q FRENCH 2,410,934

WASHING MACHINE'FOR WINDOW BLINDS Filed June 21, 1945 4 Sheets-She a 'smmvrox; 041.511?! Fnanan V "Ma Nov. 12, 1946. o." F. FRENCH WASHINGMACHINE FOR WINDOW'ZBLINDSS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 21, 1945Patented Nov. 12, 1946 Ogle F. French, Wichita, Kans.

Application June 21, 1945, Serial No. 600,805

8 Claims. (Cl. 134108) 1 This invention herein disclosed relates to aWashing machine for window blinds, similar to that of the Venetian type,and has for its principal object, to speed up the work to avoid waterspots, and furthermore to economize the cost of -such work.

A further object of this invention is to provide a series ofchambers'coacting and being aligned for step-by-step continuousoperation, namely, first to wash and sterilize the blinds, second, torinse thoroughly, third to evaporate rapidly to a dry state to avoidwater spots and fromthence utward for delivery.

A still further object of this invention is to provide efficient meansto heat water for washing purpose and also provide for a current ofheated air and circulate the same through the drying chamber for rapidevaporation of mois-' ture from the blinds after washing and rinsing thesame to avoid marring or otherwise spoiling the finished surface of theblind louvers as originally treated.

A still further object of this invention is to construct a unitarylaundry machine for cleaning Window blinds made from slats, the processrequired is a means to economize the cost of labor to operate themachine, and furthermore the cost of manufacturing the units-of themachine is comparatively inexpensive and requires but a narrow strip offloor space for its installation compared to that required for othercomplete laundry equipment for work in general, nd such generallaundrying is not included in this invention.

more fully explained, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification, and in which like characters willapply to like parts in the different views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention embodying the components ofthe machine with respect 'towashing, rinsing, and drying blindscontinuously as fed therein.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1, showing the motor and pipecirculating system, parts removed for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the washing chamber, water tank and heatingpipes.

Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 3, parts removed for convenience ofillustration.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the rinsing chamber and water tanktherebeneath.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side view of Fig. 5

' 2 showing v end doors flaps in their open as forced by the blinds. I

Fig. 7 is a vertical section at the upper extremity of the washing orrinsing walls, said view including one of the spray nozzles.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary inside elevation of Fig. '7. Fig. 9 is anenlarged section of the trolley and track taken on line 9-9 in Fig. 14.

Fig. 10 is a section longitudinally of the track position,

crossing the rockable joint on line l0--l0 in Fig. 14.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line Il--l l in Fig. 14 toillustrate the trolley carrying means for the free end of the trackswitch, parts removed for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged end view of the drying chamber, including aportion of the hot air duct.

Fig. 1 A i a modification for the drying chamber eliminating the heatedair circulating ducts by substituting infra red lamps therefor.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the trolley chain race, motor and gear ratioto actuate the travel of the chain.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged side view of the track switch mechanism, partsremoved for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view as modified to eliminate the track by theadoption of a hook to carry the blinds direct by the chain.

Fig. 17 is a transverse view to that Fig. 16, showing the hook asdetachably engaged on the chain.

' As a more concise description of the drawings, it will be seen thatthe invention consists of, washing, rinsing, and drying chambers, allbeing straight aligned to work coordinately as a unit for a final resultwith respect to washing blinds for windows or the like.

Attention is first directed to the structure of the said blinds ascomprising a plurality of slat like elements A made of wood or othermaterials, and being secured together in parallelism and in spacedrelation by flexible strips B transversely crossing the stripsoppositely with respect to their edges and being secured thereto topermit simultaneous rocking of the slats to an open or closed shown ining a tubular heating pipe 2 consisting of straight portions C ofsuitable length and diameter that are connected end to endcorrespondingly by return arced joints D for continuous circulation of acurrent of heat through said pipe and outward therefrom through avertically disposed pipe 3 that is connected to the discharge end offirst said pipe assembly and from thence to a chimney or the like, whilethe other or intake end of said pipe 2 has a gas burner I insertedtherein and a gas supply pipe 5 as fuel feed for the burner, said pipehaving a valve control 6 for the gas, whereby water contained in thetank may be heated to a high degree of temperature, and then chargedwith an efiicient washing compound and continuously circulated by aforce pump to quickly cleanse the blinds as sprayed by the water whilesaid blinds are passing through the washing chamber, the conveyance forthe blinds later described.

Said washing chamber as heretofore stated is vertically positioned andseated on bars- 6' centrally crossing the upper extremity of said tankand the said chamber consisting of two hollow metallicmembers as legs Ithat are spaced apart and secured by a hollow bottom portion as a crotch1', the space being suflicient for one set of blinds to passtherebetween and also for a plurality of spray nozzles 8 communicatingwith their respective hollows of said members and extending inwardlytoward each other from the confronting sides of said hollow members,said hollow members being so positioned and connected will function assides and bottom of the washing chamber, the sides of which are securedby brace members 8'. The ends of the chambers are closed by rubber flaps9, having one edge of each secured to its respectiveend of the sidewalls by a strip 9, said flaps, adapted to flex inward and outward asthe blinds pass therebetween on their path through the said washingchamber. The purpose of the flaps is to restrict the water spray fromfreely passing outward from the ends of the chamber and to retain theacquired heat from the temperature of the water within said chamber butfree to pass outward through the opening at the upper extremity of thewashing chamber-but being in contact with the blinds on its path upward.The water pressure for the spray nozzles is produced by a pump ID thatis actuated by a motor I I, said pump being connected to a pipe linecomprised of a joint I! that connects the pump to one side of thewashing chamber to build up pressure in the hollow thereof while thewater supply is taken from tank I by pipe joints l3 for continuouscirculation of the hot water that is treated with washing compound asheretofore stated to cleanse the blind section conveyed through thewashing chamber in a continuous aligned movement. To discharge the waterfrom the tank, it will be seen that by opening valve H the tank willdrain through pipe portion l5, it being understood that the water fromthe washing chamber is free to return to the tank as it drains from thebottom of said chamber as a result of the spray action.

- Said blinds as washed will enter a rinsing chamber that is verticallymounted on a tank that functions as a catch basin i6 for the rinse wateras sprayed on the blinds, and from thence outward, through a waste pipel1, otherwise it will be seen that the rinsing chamber structurally isthe same as the washing chamber, but supplied with city water pressureline l5, while its tank is also reduced in size and merely to functionas a catch basin with continuous drainage through its respective saidwaste pipe l1.

After a thorough rinsing of the blinds, the same are transferred into adrying chamber by 5 a relay switch later described, said chambercomprising side walls spaced apart, the upper extremity of which isenclosedby a top member i9 through which extends vent openings 20, saidopenings being provided with lids 2i to open as an exhaust for moistureevaporated by a current of heated air in the process of drying theblinds and the said side walls being closed at their lower extremity bya metallic bottom 22 seated on a support 23. Spaced upward from saidmetallic bottom is a perforated plate 24, said plate being secured tothe side walls of the drying chamber and braced by metallic bars 25extending across the drying chamber from wall to wall whereby afire-proof chamber 26 is arranged. Positioned outward and along one sideof the drying chamber is a mechanical heat circulating device consistingof a motor 21 as actuating means for a fan 28, the exhaust neck 29 ofwhich communicates with a heating device 30 and from thence into a duct3|, the duct exhausting air of a high degree of temperature into andthrough said chamber 26 and upwardly through the perforations 24' ofplate 24 into the drying chamber 26' above described,-and when theblinds are dried they are removed from track terminals E that extendoutward from the'drying chamber to where they rest 'on a beam 32 whichis carried by posts 33. It will be seen in Fig. 1, that blinds areconveyed through the washing unit as a whole on a track 34 positionedabove the washing and rinsing chambers while the drying chamber extendsto a higher plane to provide room for a rockable switch mechanism laterdescribed. Said track and race 35 spaced vertically are supported attheir forward ends a spaced distance from the washing chamber by avertically disposed post 36, while the other ends of said track and raceare carried by the drying chamber as follows: It will be seen that therace a spaced distance inward from its other end as at I slants upwardand toward the drying chamber where its terminal end seats on the upperextremity of the drying chamber, said race being so formed is means toprovide room for the track switch mechanism and also to position thetrack and race in parallelism from the forward ends to where the slantbegins. The said race is formed from a pair of L-shaped members spacedapart to provide an opening F between their confronting horizontallydisposed legs 38 while the other legs upwardly extend to form a channelin which to position an endless chain belt 39 that engages on rollers 40and sprockets 4| journalled in bearings 42 upwardly extending from thevertically disposed legs 38, said rollers to carry the weight of theupper portion of the belt while the lower portion thereof slides on thelegs horizontally disposed.

As. traveling means for the chain belt is through the medium of a motor44 positioned on the chain race adjacent the first named end thereof toactuate a train of gears 45, 46, 41, and 48 to reduce the speed travelof the chain belt as the blinds are to move slowly through the washing,rinsing and drying chambers.

To convey the blinds it will be seen that trolleys are provided to carrythe blinds, said trolleys comprising a sheave 49 to roll on the track,said sheave being journalled in a bearing 50 having a hook 5| downwardlyextending to engage with which is concavo-convex V a hook G of a clip 52that has a loop H'in which a carrying bar 53 for the blind will engage,while on the other or upper end of the bearing is a finger J ofsufficient length to enter a link of the chain as moving means for theclip or clips to convey the blinds pendantedly through the washing andrinsing chambers. Immediately after the rinsing, the finger of the clipautomati caliy releases from the chain belt dueto a downward incline Kalong the upper edge of the track as shown in Fig. 14 and co-incidenttherewith the blinds thus detached are forced onward by edgewise contactand being directed by a rockable portion of the track that functions asa switch at to flll a series of tracks 55 positioned in the dryingchamber in spaced relation across said chambers and being in parallelismand extending outward from the terminal end of said drying chamber asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, at which outward point the blinds when launderedare assembled for delivery. A portion of the other ends of said tracksare positioned convergently and terminating as indicated by a dottedarcuate line 55' so that the rocking movement of the free end of theswitch member will circumscribe and register rigidly but releasable inconsecutive order with the ends of th said series of tracks thatterminate along said dotted line 55 as above described, whereby the saidtracks of the drying chamber are co-ordinateiy filled with washed blindsto dry the sameco'ntinuously step by step repeatedly duringthe washingaction of the machine.

As a carrying means for all tracks, it will be seen thathanger bars 56have their upper ends rigidly secured to their respective chain race asin Fig. 9 and ceiling or top enclosurev of the drying chamber as in Fig.12 while their lower ends have an offset L to space the bar portion fromthe track, as well as to provide room for sheaves to roll in the clearwhile conveying the blinds along said tracks 3l and '55.

InFigs. 9, 10, 11, 14, and 15 is shown the components ofa transferswitch mechanism consistingof a track portion as a switch?! rockablyjoined to a. single track 34 between said rinsing and drying chambers,the knuckle joint M of I abutting for rocking movementv oppositely on ahorizontal plane, said switch member being rockably carried at one endby a U-shaped frame 56', the legs of which extend horizontally andvertically aligned in spaced relation, the upper leg having an extensionN positioned at right angle on the same plane and has a stud 51pivotedly seated in a socket 58 that is secured to the chain belt racewhile the lower leg is secured rigid to the switch a spaced distanceinward from its rockable connection with space being equal to the lengthof the offset of the upper leg, above referred to, to rock or swing theswitch oppositely on a horizontal plane by rocking the frame manually,it being understood that the legs of, the U-shaped frame 56 willstraddle the slanting portion I of the said race to facilitate an equaldistance swing of the switch oppositely as required for registryengagement 'of its free end with the adjacent terminal ends of theseries of tracks in the drying chamber so that the trolleys will travelsmoothly from the switch element onto said track series selectively orconsecutively from track to track of the series. It will be seen thatthe other end of the transfer switch is carried by a trolley laterdescribed that conthe single track, said nects the outer or free end ofthe transfer switch 76 and of suitable depth, the upper extremity of Ito an arcuate track that is dimpled at spaced intervals along itsunderside as at P, and the said track at its'terminal ends being securedto terminal ends correspondingly of a bar 60 that crosses the elevatedportion of the chain belt race and being secured thereto at thelongitudinal center of said bar. As above stated with respect to thetrolley, it will be seen that it consists of a bar 62 having an offset Rto connect the same to the free end of the switch as shown in Fig. 11 toavoid obstructing the trolley roller 63, said roller being journalledbetween a pair of bearings 64, while the lower ends of said bearingsaresecured to the upper end of said offset bar whereby the switch iseasily rocked to registry with adjacent endsof the drying chamber seriesof tracks, and the said trolley has a spring tensioned stay bolt 65 toseat in the dimples at the instant of end registry of the switch andtracks, consecutively or selectively as the case may require.

To move the switch from its locked position there is provided a rod orchain 65 with which to draw the bolt from engagement with the dimples tofree the trolley for further movement of the v switch manually.

each other so that As a modification for the drying chamber, attentionis directed to Fig. 12A in which the side walls are closely positionedso that a single blind at a. time will pass there-between and beingdried by a series of infra red lamps 61 positioned on the inner side ofboth walls and being directed toward contactboth sides of the blindsimultaneously for rapid evaporation of moisture deposited on the blindwhile passing through the rinsing chamber, and switch means to'make andbreak the electric current for the lamps wholly or in part from theupper rows of lamps downward as desired are controlled.

A further modification resides in the carrying means for the blindsthrough the medium of a coupling having a loop 68 on one end thereof toengage the carrying bar of the blinds, while on the other end of thcoupling is a hook 69 to engage On a knuckle 10 that rockably connectsthe links of the chain. By this arrangement the blinds are removed fromthe chain when laundered. In this modification the single track andchain belt extend through all of said chambers whereby the switch andseries of track ar eliminated, and such other modifications may be madeas lie within the scope of th appended claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure 'by Letters Patent is:

1. In a washing mi shine the class described, a tank ing fluid, aheating pipe positioned in the tank to be submerged by the fluid, meansto circulate heat through the pipe to heat the washing fluid, a pair ofhollow walls seated in spaced relation on the tank, a plurality ofnozzles for each wall, the nozzles being in spaced 7 fronting sides oftheir respective walls, a motoractuated pump, and pipe means to connectthe pump to the tank and said hollow walls to circulate fluid from thetank'through the walls and outward through the nozzles as washing meansfor Venetian blinds pendantly carried between the hollow-walls, therebeing conveying means for the blinds between said hollow walls.

2. In a washing machine for window blinds, of the class described, atank rectangular in form for window blinds, of

heat produced thereby will for containing wash-,

relation on the conv and outward therefrom for a desired temperature ofwashing fluid contained in the tank, a pair of hollow walls upwardlyextending from the tank, means carried by the tank to support the wallsconcentric to the opening of the tank, a pump connected with the hollowwalls and interior of the tank as circulating means for washing fluidcontained in the tank through said hollow walls, a series of nozzlesdistributed over confronting sides of the hollow walls, the nozzleseries to eject water toward each other under pressure from the pump towash a set of Venetian blinds on both sides thereof simultaneously whilesaid blinds are moved continuously between the hol- 8 5. In a washingmachine for window blinds comprising a tank as a water container, aspray washing mechanism positioned on the tank, a conveyor for Venetianblinds in working relation to the washing mechanism, said washingmechanism comprised of a pair of hollow elements substantiallyrectangular in form and a hollow botlow walls, and pendant carryingmeans for the blinds.

3. In a washing machine for window blinds, of the class described, atank as a container for water, a heating duct of suitable diameterextending through the tank and being submerged by the water as heatingmeans therefor, a pair of hollow walls in spaced relation carried by thetank, a plurality of nozzles for each wall, the nozzles being in spacedrelation on the confronting sides of their respective walls, a pumphaving pipe means to connect the pump to the tank and said hollow wallsto force water from the tank into the walls'and outward through thenozzles as washing means for Venetian blinds pendantly carried betweensaid hollow walls, and a pair of rubber flaps to close each end of thespace between the hollow walls.

4. In a washing machine for window blinds, of the class described, atank, a tubular heating pipe positioned in said tank for heating waterin said tank, said pipe having straight portions and arced joints toconnect the straight portions to increase the length of the pipe ascoupled, means to circulate and heat the air for said pipe, a pair ofvertically positioned hollow members having a hollow member to connectthe same at their lower extremities, bars to support the hollow membersabove said tank, and a plurality of spray nozzles for the confrontingsides of the vertically disposed hollow members, said nozzles beingevenly distributed in spaced relation over the entire area of the saidsides.

tom communicatingly connecting the hollow elements, said hollow elementsbeing spaced apart by the bottom so that the blinds may be conveyedbetween the hollow elements, nozzles plurally applied to the confrontingsides of the said hollow elements, and a pump for circulation of thewater from the tank into the hollow elements and outward through thenozzles as washing means for both sides of Venetian blindssimultaneously, said water returning to the tank.

6. In a washing machine for window blinds. as recited in claim 5, pipesconnecting the said hollow elements with the tank and said pump forcirculation of the water.

'7. In a washing machine for window blinds, a hollow U-shapedstructurehaving upwardly extending legs rectangular in form and being spacedapart by its hollow crotch, the latter as communicating means for waterinto the legs, a plurality of nozzles uniformly spaced over confrontingsides of the legs for spraying hot water from leg to leg across thespace therebetween, a tank for heated water, said tank being open at theupper extremity and upon which the U-shaped structure is seated, a ductextending to and fro within the tank and terminating in spaced relationa short distance inward from each wall of the tank, and means to produceand cause circulation of hot air through the duct to heat the water.

8. In a washing machine for window blinds, a hollow U-shaped structurehaving upwardly extending legs rectangular in form and being spacedapart by its hollow crotch, the latter as communicating means for waterinto the legs, a plurality of nozzles uniformly spaced over confrontingsides of the legs for spraying water from leg to leg across the spacetherebetween, and a tank on which the hollow structure is seated, saidtank being a catch basin for water as it leaves the U-shaped structure.

OGLE F. FRENCH.

